Book Image

Developer Career Masterplan

By : Heather VanCura, Bruno Souza
5 (1)
Book Image

Developer Career Masterplan

5 (1)
By: Heather VanCura, Bruno Souza

Overview of this book

Written by industry experts that have spent the last 20+ years helping developers grow their careers, this book offers invaluable insights and guidance tailored to the specific needs of technical professionals. By discovering the secret of continuous learning and adapting in the ever-evolving field of software development, you’ll explore various learning paths with formal and informal methods, as well as gain an understanding of the value of certifications to validate your skills. This book will teach you the significance of building a strong support network, holding crucial conversations, and taking ownership of your career growth. You'll delve into acquiring both soft and hard skills, becoming a well-rounded and sought-after developer. Packed with practical examples, stories of successful developers, and real-world applications, the chapters will equip you with actionable advice on how to push beyond your comfort zone and embracing communities to enhance your teamwork abilities. Additionally, you’ll uncover the benefits of joining open-source projects, speaking at conferences, and building a personal brand to amplify your visibility and reputation. By the end of this book, you'll have a well-laid-out long-term and short-term plan for your career progression, equipping you with advanced technical skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to effectively manage relationships within your organization.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
1
Part 1 The Basics: Learn and Practice the Technical Skills
7
Part 2 Get Involved: Participate in the Community
13
Part 3 Create Impact: Share and Lead

Expanding your possibilities through informal learning

In Heather’s two decades of experience working with some of the top developers around the world, approximately half of the developers I have worked with have been self-taught, meaning that they have not completed formal learning to acquire their development skills.

Whether you have acquired your skills through formal learning or not, there is a significant role to play in informal learning. You will expand your career possibilities through informal learning.

There are many forms that informal learning can take. While there are a myriad of online audio and/or video options available, there are also books (or e-books or audiobooks) and the often-overlooked informal learning option of pair programming. There are also books published by Packt on pair programming. Informal learning has the advantages of being affordable, accessible, and self-paced. You must still keep at the top of your mind the motivation for your learning...